Pulsatilla 2014

[Tim Ingram]

This is a cultivated plant of Pulsatilla bungeana (?) in Milan Halada's garden last May. It looks close to Susann's picture in the wild and to several pictures of it in Chris Grey-Wilson's book in cultivation, but certainly rather different in leaf to Greenspan's plant. Chris Grey-Wilson describes it as having 'elegant gaping blooms held well above the foliage' when in cultivation, but much more ground hugging and compact in habitat, which would equate with such a harsh dry landscape. Presumably though areas getting significant rains at intervals would quickly grow up more grasses and stronger vegetation?

Really interesting to see all these photos and references to the plant, and Mongolia looks a place floristically more interesting than school geography might suggest!

[Maggi Young]

Never underestimate Mongolia, Tim - everyone I know who has had the good fortune to vist loved the place and the wealth of plants they saw. For instance, Panayoti Kelaidis tempted us after one of his trips : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=3953.0  and  he has  written in past blogs about his visits. This link is still active to photos : http://s979.photobucket.com/user/kelaidis/media/Mongolia%202009/wierdRhodiolaroseaMongolia456.jpg.html

[Susann]

Tim, there are three different variations of P bungeana. Greenspans plant is a v tenuiloba. What the plant on your picture is I do not dare to say but I can tell you this much that the Czechs unfortunally are as confused as the rest of us. I have never seen a correctly labelled P bungeana in there gardens but of course I have seen far from all the gardens in that beautiful country. Regarding books I think we should be very careful to trust pictures from garden specimens. And yes, Mongolia was fantastic with such a variation of biotops. They count 16 different types of vegatation regions. It seemed like every valley was totally different from the ones before and many times the landscape and biotops changed dramatically many times in the very same valley.

[greenspan]

... are as confused as the rest of us.

yes...first i am.

i checked a latin dictionary to find out, what "tenuiloba" could be meant. "tenuis" = "thin, narrow", "lobus" = lobe, so this fits the leafshape of my plant comparing to the broader lobes of a normal bungeana. but what i noticed just now when i checked this bungeana photo of the mongolian type again (use the "cursor +" to zoom in) ...have a look at the stamens! they are dark purple(?) + the pollen is white! i never watched out this feature before. i can't believe, that this is a result of the dry + extrem sunny habitat. maybe a local variation? susann...help us, let your garden be what it is and check your photos.  

[Tim Ingram]

Well, if we can ever tempt Panayoti to visit the hot, dry south of England this is a talk I would love to hear I did have some idea of the relative riches of the flora, despite my school geography, because so many such arid regions are home to such wonderful plants, and for some reason I have this urge to grow many of them in our garden. It's nice to see that as well as rather amazing fossil discoveries you could also spend a lot of time studying the natural flora of Mongolia. Thanks Susann, I learn little by little, but especially would like to grow more of the pulsatillas and have them correctly identified and from habitat, so it's rewarding to get such first-hand experience on the Forum.

[Susann]

Greenspan, that is the wonderful  P bungeana v astragaliifolia. (Once again, check the leaves, they are really different). It is my absolute favourite and the reason I wanted to include Mongolia in my trip. All the other species there are to be found in other places too, but not this one. Why this variety has blue stamens I can of course not tell, but I can explain part of it. But I was going to save that for later. The photo you have found is taken by Martin Schnittler. I am very happy that I found the plant, I did not even dare to dream about it. It grows in a strictly protected area- but not the same as the area mentioned in the thread about my trip. It has a very nice feature, it grows like P sugawarii when getting older, it reminds me of Paraquilegia. The blue stamens is not the only speciality ( and the very anemone-like flowers) but it also have another stunning detail I will show later if not someone else will show it before ( yes, I try to make a cliffhanger). As most of you already know P kostyzcewii also have -almost- blue stamens, but I think this little friend is much more beautiful.
Tim, please, remember I am far from an "expert". I am just very interested but try to learn everything that is to learn about them. But as Leslie said the other day; the more I learn the more I realize how little I know.

[Lori S.]

This is the plant I just bought as "Pulsatilla trisecta".  I'm doubtful!  Any idea what it might be, Susan, or anyone else?

[Susann]

Lori, I must repeat, I am not an expert; far from. But I wish I was. Let us all learn together. But I would say yes, I think it could still be a P patens "f trisecta". I have to admit I right now do not remember if this a valid forma or not. But, it has a slightly soft form on the tips; but as they variate so much I think it might be totally possible? The small tuft of hair at the end of the tops you see at P patens. But, and important,  it looks quite hairy? And the form of the leaves resembles almost more of the young leaves of P chinensis? They are hairy and also have the small tuft of hair at the top.
I am very happy I am just a happy gardening amateur and not a brain surgery doctor. ...Hm, this looks like healthy texture but this is slightly different, or not, or yes, lets cut...Oh, it must be horrible to have to be so sure.

I add two pictures, one is of the forma of P patens and the other one is a recently emerged leave of P chinensis. Please, do not care about the colors, one is too light and the other too dark.


P chinensis

P patens

Maggi, I have tried in other posts to add the pictures as "inline expandable", but then they are just not small, and not possible to open as Lorisīs and others? I use the browsing "thing" to chose "expandable"?

[krisderaeymaeker]

Second time flowering this year .....P. turczaninowii.  At least I get it under this name.

[Susann]

Congratulations! Mine does not remont that well this year; only one or a few flowers on each plant. I donīt know why? They should be used to hog and dry weather. Maybe they are spoiled being used to clouds and rain every other day? How are they doing in other parts? (But are they really that violet, or is it the camera? P turczaninovii should be blue, but the involucrate leaves look OK I would say?)

[krisderaeymaeker]

Congratulations! Mine does not remont that well this year; only one or a few flowers on each plant. I donīt know why? They should be used to hog and dry weather. Maybe they are spoiled being used to clouds and rain every other day? How are they doing in other parts? (But are they really that violet, or is it the camera? P turczaninovii should be blue, but the involucrate leaves look OK I would say?)

Hello Susann , thanks . No it is not my camera ....here it is not so blue and the colour of the flower on the picture  looks very much like the real one.
My garden can be very hot in summer when the weather is good. It is like an amfitheatre .
But august was really wet so far ...... 

[krisderaeymaeker]

I lost the original label from this one but as I remember wel it was not correct labeled ........

P. spec..... ?

[greenspan]

kris, can't see enough (e.g. leaves). my first thought...Pulsatilla violacea? compare your plant with this foto in plantarium.ru.

would you please show a leaf/leaves photo of your turczaninovii. all "turczaninovii" plants i saw or got were ambigua.

[krisderaeymaeker]

kris, can't see enough (e.g. leaves). my first thought...Pulsatilla violacea? compare your plant with this foto in plantarium.ru.

You could be right , looks much the same. Thanks for the link !

[krisderaeymaeker]

would you please show a leaf/leaves photo of your turczaninovii. all "turczaninovii" plants i saw or got were ambigua.

Try to make a detailed picture from the leaves .